The Christmas Tree Lights Up for the First Time Since the Outbreak of the Gaza War

Throughout a two-year period amid the Gaza war, all public celebrations marking the holiday season were cancelled in Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This city is believed to be where the faithful hold the birth of Jesus occurred.

However, following a recent truce, this sacred city decided that now celebrations would make a comeback, as symbolised by the illumination of its traditional, large holiday tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity.

"We have endured a bad two years without celebration; no Christmas, no jobs, no income," states Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here from tourism and tourism had fallen to nothing."

He acknowledges that the idea of resuming celebrations faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – including for those in its small Christian population, many of whom have family ties to Bethlehem.

"Certain voices argue it's not appropriate while others contend it's appropriate," Mr Canawati explains. "However, in my heart, I believed that this was the right thing to take because the Christmas season must never be halted or abandoned. This represents the light of hope for our community."

A Spark of Festivity Returns

Residents – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – take photographs in front of the tree hung with gold and red ornaments in Manger Square. They are accompanied by a handful of international visitors.

Brightly coloured lights now adorn the streets and there are signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children.

"We're very happy to have the tree, first thing, and to see foreigners to Bethlehem and to have the chance to observe the holiday in its authentic spirit," says Bethlehem designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This place is where everything began, so this is where we can convey a message globally about what Christmas truly represents. And this year, if Christmas is peaceful, I sincerely hope it will deliver a nice message for the whole world."

Economic Prospects and Challenges

The neighbouring towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to illuminate holiday trees soon. Hotels – which have remained largely empty for the past two years – have an influx in reservations from Palestinian citizens of Israel along with some foreign visitors.

One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I think everyone needs to come at minimum one time during their lifetime," she states.

"I wish a lot of people will soon come back because it's sad without many tourists. The sole aspect that is positive is that you don't have lengthy queues – one can visit and experience more. When I came before you had to wait in line for hours at least."

Currently, the souvenir stores dotted around Bethlehem have little business, and outside the cream-coloured walls of the Church of the Nativity, which originate from the 4th century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the Gaza war, it was typically packed with people.

"This is a tourist city; without tourism there is no life," laments one guide Hamza. "We aspire to have people coming back as in the past: from Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Latin American and all over. We begin with lighting the tree, and we'll wait."

The Persistent Economic Toll

In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Following the lethal attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023 which triggered the war, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank region have been prevented from entering Israel and Israeli settlements for work.

Meanwhile, public servants have been paid just a portion of their salaries from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs parts of the West Bank. The PA relies on tax income gathered by Israel, which it is currently holding – amounting to $1.76 billion, as reported by a UN agency.

Israel says it is holding these funds because the PA makes payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage violence against Israelis. The authority – facing global pressure to make reforms – says it has recently changed its welfare system.

An Austere Holiday

The grim economic situation implies that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public festivities as well as religious services, it will be an austere Christmas.

At the edge of Manger Square, a few customers wait to purchase sizzling balls of falafel from several shops.

"We are getting ready for Christmas after one of our most challenging times as Palestinians and as a Christian community," states Alaa Salameh, who runs a restaurant called Afteem, a long-established family-run eatery which has seen its income plummet. He says that recently many families could not even purchase falafel – an inexpensive, traditional snack.

"Christians will try to mark the occasion but based on their situation," Mr Salameh anticipates. "Someone who wants to take his kids to a festive event or the theatre or whatever, they lack the money to expend for this celebration."

Prayers for Peace and Prosperity

In the cave-like grotto at the base of the church, a local woman accompanies a tour group from India, bending down by a silver star that indicates the spot where it is said Jesus was born and igniting a light close by.

With tensions still high throughout the area, people in Bethlehem say they are praying for peace – and wishing for visitors to return to the place which is thought to be Christmas began.